Railway frog



G. S. SHAWl RAILWAY FROG.'

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. |919.

Patented J an. 3, 1922.

J? .MW www UNER@ STATES FA'IENI ,@FFQFL.

GEORGE S. SHAW, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTCKY, ASSIGNOR TO. LOUISVILLE FROG- & SWITCH COMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION.

RAILWAY FROG.

Slieccatonof Letters Patent.

Patented Jan'. 3, 1922.

Application led May 5, 1919. Serial No. 294,645. i

To all 'whomy t may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention seeks to provide an improved. railway frog having a body portion each end of which is adapted to align withV a pair of rails of ordinary section and which is provided with arms to which such rails are secured, so that the ordinary track rails can be used for the rail arms of the frog and the necessity of grinding, machining or otherwise shaping special rail arms is avoided.

The invention further seeks to provide improved means for securing the rails or rail arms to the body of the frog which can' be readily adjusted to take up any wear between the attached parts. With these and other objects in view, as shall presently appear, the invention consists in the features of Aimprovement hereinafter set forth, illustratedin the preferred form in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan of the improved frog. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4 and 5 respectively of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the toe or forked end of theV frog. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing a modification.

The body a of the frog is formed of a' single steel casting 'or forging having a height equal to the height of the rails for which it is designed. The ,heel end is of sufficient width to align with a pair of rails of ordinary T-.section and is preferably provided with a single head 1 having edge flanges or gauge facings 2 which are adapted to align with the gauge sides of the heads of' a pair of'rails b. 'Ihe heel end is also'provided with a wedge shaped integral arm 3, having 'outwardlyY divergent side walls, which extends between and is adaptedto fit snugly against the inner adjacent sides of the rails Y). The greater portion ofthe upper face Vof the arm 3 is preferably located in the same plane with the head 1 of the frog, but the other end portion is preferably downwardly inclined, as indicated by the shad ing in Fig. l. A series of fastener bolts-4 extends transversely through the ends of the rails and arm 3 to securel. clam-p the rails to the body of the frog. 1e connection be# tween the rails o and the body of the frogis also preferably strengthened by joint plates or angle bars 5 which fit against the outer sides of the rails between the heads and base flanges thereof and are secured thereto by the bolts 4. The `heel end of the frog body is preferably provided with base flanges (-3 which align with the base flanges of the rails ZJ. The heel of the frog body is reduced in thickness between the gauge and baseflanges 2 and 6 so as to substantially align with the outer side faces of the rails l) and properly receive theinner ends of the strengthening bars 5 which are secured to the frog body by transverse through bolts 7. As usual, the head 1l extends to and slightly beyond the center of the body of the frog and tapers to a point 8.

The opposite end or toe of the body of the frog is provided with spaced heads 9 on opposite sides of a groove 10, and is of sufficient width to align with a pair of rails c of ordinary l'section with the sides or gauge facings of th@ groove 10 in alignment with the gauge sides of the rail heads. At this end the frog body is also provided with a pair of integral spaced arms 11 which fit the outer sides of the rails c and the upper faces of which are preferably located in the same plane with the upper faces of the heads 9 and also of the rail heads, although the vouter portion of the-upper faces of these arms yare preferablyv inclined, as indicated by l the shading in Fig. 1. A throat block or blocks is interposed between the inner ends of the rails c and bolts lclamp the ends of the rails between the arms 11 and the throat block or blocks. In the present improvedconstruction, inner andou'ter wedge-shaped throat blocks 12 and 13, which fit snugly against the adjacent side fac'es of the rail c, are provided, the inner throat block being adjustable to take up any wear between the rails c and the arms 11 of the frog body. Preferably, the inner adjustable throat block is llonger and has a greater bearing on the rails c than the outer block 13, and the blocks areheld in position by transverse through Ybolts 14, the ends of which extend through the rails 0 and integral arms 11 of the frog body. As shown-in Fig. 7, the bolt-hole through the outer throat block is round, so that it is held fixed or rigid in position by the outer bolt 14.

But the bolt-holes through the inner block thethroat block 12 in adjustable position,

suitable spacing devices are provided between its outer end "andthe outer throat block 13 which, as stated, is rigidly held in fixed` position. The spacing devicesreferred tocan be varied.

As indicated in Fig. T, the adjacentfaces ofthe blocks 12 andi-13 are provided with alined sockets for receiving a pini 15 anda washer lfonthe pin holds the blocks inthe desired spaced relation. Then thefrog isfirst instal-led, the wedgeshaped-v throat blocks 12 and 13 are insertedbetween the rails with a relatively thin washer 16 between them. The: through bolts 1d are insertedy andthe nutl through the` outer block isfirstftightened, thenby tightening the nuts on the other bolts lll'the parts at the toe or forked end of the frog are' drawn into rigid working position,` with -the rails c firmly clamped between thethroat `blocks and the integral arms 11 of the frog body.

lf any of theparts becomeworn,` so that the contact between the rails and thear-ms 11 is loosened, the outer block` 13 can beremoved and the nuts on the bolts through the inner adjustable block 12 loosened s'o that the latter can be driven forward to a firm wedging position. Then by placing a thicker or' an additional washer upon the pin 15 and replacing the outer wedge blbck the inner adjustable wedge l lock"\vill be firmly held in adjusted position, and by re-tightening all the nuts, the rigidity ofthe connection can bef readily renewed.

I-nthe modification indicated in Fig. 8, the spacing device between the fixed and adjustable throat blocks is in the form o f an adjusting screw, the endportions 17 of which are' preferably provided with right andleftlhand threads respectively, and engage correspondingly threaded sockets in the adjacent ends of the blocks.` The enlarged central portion 18 of the spacing screw is shaped to receive a'suitable Spanner. In this forrntheinner` block `can be adjusted without removing the outerjblock.

The base flange 6 of the body of the frog preferably extends throughout the entire lengthfof `the body of the frog and also throughout the length ofthe integral arms 11 at thetoey or forked end of the frog.V The outer side face of oneof the arms 11 lirnined-iately above the `fialnge 6` is provided with` squared in-tegrall llets er bosses 19 whichare arrangedl beneath the ,belt-holes of--` the ari-n? and aref adapted te engage the ifioaoesA Y heads of the bolts 14. The bolts are thereby held against turning when the nuts thereof are tightened or loosened,- and the neces- -sity of employing other devices for holding thebolts against turning is thereby avoided. To strengthen the integral arms 11 at the juncture thereof with the main body of the frog, reinforcing bars or fish-plates20 can be secured against the outer side faces of the arms and secured thereto by means of the through bolts 14C which also serve to clamp the pair of'ra-ilsc to the armslhere such reinforcing' bars are employed, the side faces of the frogbody adjacent its toe areshaped toy receive them and the-body of the frog is provided with bolt-holes for receiving i series of bolts 21 that secu-re th'eginner ends of the reinforcingbarsl20 tothe frog body.

The heads 9I atfthe toe-v of thel frogla-re of considerable widthY and-the' gauge edges or facings thereof taper inwardly toward the center'of the-frog and merge into the wheelL Y guard facings 22 which extend onl opposite sides `of and parallelto the faces off the pointl 8 being separated therefrom by grooves 23; `The groovesA and wheelfguard facings preferably extend to some distance beyond the lpoint'v and are provided with widened ends or throats 221, The outer faces 25 of the heads Qtaper inwardly toward the center `of the frog body and thence: flare outwardly, as shown. The construction thus affords broad, flatfwheel treads on theportion ofthe frog bodyhaving the guard faces 22 andwhich facesV serve to guide the guard wheels to the proper groove on opposite sides of the frog point. By reason of this construction the shock and jar to the fregi, occasionedV by heavy engine wheels or worn car-wheels, is materially reduced. l The main body of the frog isi hollow to ,reduce weight and is providedlat intervals with transverse strengthening flanges 25 and also with thickened portions or flanges '2T through whichA the holes for thebolts 4,. 7 and 21 extend. Y y Y Y Obviously, `changes may be made in` the details setv forth without ydeparture from the essentials of the invention asdefined by the claims. f

I claimgas my invention.

1. A railway frog comprising a'body havingy each end adapted tol align with a pair of rail ends of ordinary full crossk section and provided at its ends with integralk `e2;- tensions or arms having tread surfacesand adapted to fit against the sides of the rai-ls andbe secured thereto, substantiallyfas Vde- '2.. In a railwayfrog, a hollow. body Vportion provided with base fiangesand having each fend adapted .to z tli-ginrwith-` a pair of rail ends of ordinary full,` cross section,- said body having an integralv arrnat one end adapted to t betweenone pai-1576i rails, and

a pair of integral spaced arms at the'ropposite end adapted to fit against the outer faces of the other pair of rails, a throat block adapted to fit between the latter pair of rails, and through bolts for securing the rails to said arms and for holding said throat block in position, substantially as described.

3. In a railway frog, a body portion having each end adapted to align with a pair of rail ends of ordinary section, said body having an integral arm at one end adapted to fit between one pair of rails, and a pair of integral spaced arms at the opposite end adapted to fit against the outer faces of the other pair of rails, a throat block adapted to fit between the latter pair of rails, through bolts for securing said rails to said arms and for holding said throat block in position, reinforcing bars engaging the ends of said bolts and overlapping the ends of said body portion, and through bolts for securing said bars to said body, substantially as described.

4;. In a railway frog, abody having an integral extension at its heel end adapted to fit between a pair of rails and a pair of integral arms at its opposite end adapted to fit the outer side faces of a second pair of rails, joint bars and through bolts for securing one pair of rails to said extension and to the adjacent end of said body, and a throat block and through bolts for securing the other pair of rails to said spaced arms, substantially as described.

5. A railway frog having spaced heads at one end adapted to align with a pair of rail ends of ordinary full cross section and integral spaced arms provided with tread surfaces and arranged to fit against the outer side faces of the rails, a wedge-shaped throat block adapted to fit between the pair of rails, and bolts extending through said arms and throat block for securing the rails to the frog, substantially as described.

6. A railway frog having spaced heads at one end adapted to align with a pair of rail ends of ordinary section and integral spaced arms arranged to iit against the outer side faces of the rails, a wedge-shaped throat block adapted to fit between the pair of rails, bolts extending through said arms and throat block for clamping the rails thereto, reinforcing bars engaging the ends of said bolts and overlapping the body portion of the frog, and bolts extending through said bars and body portion, substantially as described. h

7. A railway frog having a pair of spaced heads and a pair of integral spaced arms at one end adapted, respectively, to align with and fit against the outer side faces of a pair of rail ends of ordinary full cross section, an adjustable wedge-shaped throat block adapted to fit between the rail ends, and through bolts for securing the rails to said arms' and for holding said adjustable throat block in position, substantially as described.

8. A railway frog having spaced heads at one end adapted to align with a pair of rail ends of ordina-ry section and integral spaced arms arranged to fit against the outer side faces of the rails, a wedge-shaped throat block adapted to fit between the pair of rails, and bolts extending through said arms and throat block for securing the rails to the frog, one of said arms having integral lugs for engaging the heads of said bolts, substantially as described.

9. A railway frog having a pair of spaced arms at one end adapted to overlap the end portions of a pair of rails, inner and outer wedge-shaped throat blocks adapted to fit between the rails, spacing devices between said blocks, and fastening means for clamping the rails between said arms and throat blocks arranged to hold the outer block in fixed position and permit the adjustment of the inner block, substantially as described.

l0. A railway frog having a pair of spaced arms at one end adapted to overlap the end portions of a pair of rails, inner and outer Wedge-shaped throat blocks adapted to it between the rails, spacing devices between said blocks, and bolts extending through the arms, rails and throat blocks and arranged to hold the outer block fixed and permit the adjustment of the inner block, substantially as described.

GEORGE S. SHAW. 

